Tbactob belt



y C. T. TORRESEN vAND C. G. ROTH.

TRACTOR BELT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I7, 1921.

Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

Z MM5/vrom tel/Ae( 7T Tevreden@ R I, m 'Z fao/* a/Q Wr TQ fn/Ens C. T. TORRESEN AND C. G. ROTH.

TRACTOR BELT. APPLICATION man MAR. 17. 192|.

1,;|;37,693, i Patented De... 5,1922.

n 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Bec. 5, 1922.

STATES CAREL TORRESEN AND CHARLES GLROTH, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

TRACTOR BELT.

Application filed March 17, 19251. SerialNo. 452,915.'

To mit whom may c0owew1..' f,

Be it known that we, CARnL T. ToRRnsEN and @Hannes G Rom-i, citizens of theUnit'ed States, and residents'of Cleveland, countyof Cuyahoga, and State ofOhio, have invented a certain new yand useful Improvement in Tractor Belts, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to track-laying ven elevation, partly in sect1on,'of an endless hicles and is primarily concerned with the construction of an endless tread adapted for use in connectionwith vehicles, such 'as tractors. i f 7 'i Track-laying vehicles, usually employ an endless tread comprising a series of tread blocks which are hinged together in'such manner as will enable them to be moved in a vertical plane relative to each other. lWlien the tractor is in operation, particularly in agricultural work, obstacles, `as for example, boulders, roots of trees, etc., are frequently encountered by one edge of the tread. These obstacles tend to pivot each tread block about the supporting wheel therefor, so that strain is placed upon they hinged connect1`on,-the greatest strain be ing imposed upon the rblock in immediate contact with the obstacle. Frequently, the strain becomes so great that the block is fractured or the hinged connection broken. An object of ourinvention is the provision of means for connecting adjacent tread blocks for use in anen'dless tread, whereby one ormore sections may be pivoted about the supporting wheel therefor, without vsubjecting any of the blocks to 'excessive torsional strain.

Another object is the provision of vconnect-A ing means between the adjacent sections for permitting such sections to be readily assembled, and to be securely held in alignment.

Other objects include the. provision of means `for enabling the tractor tread to be adapted for use on either soft ground or hard pavement,` and for providing :an effective gripping contactjtherewith. l,

1n accomplishing the above objects, we employ a treadhaving an arcuate .trackway on the interior portion thereof, which track way is adapted to be engaged by supporting wheels, and we employ a ball and socket connection aligned with the axis of such arcuate portion for linking ad] acent sections "of the tread. Furthermore, `we provide yconvenient manner.

that .the tractor is equipped with a frame` 4yielding' members on thegripping surface of each section, which members are adapted to sinkinto soft ground, or move inwardly to permit the tread to travel over hard ground.

The means for accomplishing the vabove .objects will be more fully explained in the following description, which relates to the drawings, and the essential characteristics .will be set forth in the claims.

.In the drawings, Fig, 1 1s a fragmentary treadpembodying' the features of our invention; Fig. 2 is a plan, partly in section,

of two sections secured together by a ball and'socket connection; Fig. 3 isa vertical section taken on the line.3-3 of Fig. 2;

Our invention contemplates in general the construction of a connection `adapted for linking adjacent sections in an endless tread belt, and for `providing universal movement between such sections. Accordingly we have shown our device as embodied in a tractor tread, a portion of whichis shown in Fig. 1. This tread is adapted to be driven by a sprocket wheel 10, which is journaled at 11 in the frame 12. The sprocket wheel may be driven by means not shown, which means may be connected with the motor in any It is to be understood and tread on each side thereof, but for purposes of illustration, our invention will ybe described as pertaining to a single tread.

*The frame 12, as shown in F ig. 4i, is provided with an apron 13, which extends downwardly and terminates near the lowermost portion of the sprocket wheel 10. The apron constitutes the supporting means for the shafts 14e on whichthe track engaging wheels 15 are mounted. The uppermost portion ofthe frame serves to supportI the sprocket wheel.

`engagement therewith. Shanks 30 may then ,be rotatably .secured adjacent -section.

adapted to be engaged bya complementary arcuate portion 23 on the periphery of the sprocket wheel l0, and oneach supporting wheel 15. `Toengage the sectionsformoving the tread, we provide teeth which are in the edgeflanges 2li, on eachside .otthe These teethare adapted to engage the endso'f `a rod 25, which may extend through ,i and protrude `equally from each side of thetrackway. `We prefer to position each rod -25 .on the longitudinal axis of each plate to permit an equal distribution of forces in the universaljoints.

To connect adjacent sections, weprovide .a universal ,joint which, as shown iirFig. 3,

may comprisel twobellfshaped members 26, and an annular housingring 27,4which is adapted to move within a spliericalrecess 28. Toprovide such 4spherical recess, ythe ends of the trackway on each section are recessed inwardly in such `manner that the axis of the recess is coincidentwith the axis or the trackway. The innermost portion of each recess is shown as,terminating in a hub 58 within ,which,-the Shanks 30 of the bell-shaped members 26 are rotatably supported. `Each bell-shaped member comprises a hollow member having-,an exterior surface which is complementary to the interior periphery of the annular member 27. The width of the annular memberis such that one side thereof, as at 3l, may engage the neck of the bell-shapedmember 26, as at 32, without permittingthe opposite edge, as at 83, to uncover the ends of thetrackway as at 34.

To assemble the ball and socket connection, the annularring maybe tor-med into the kshape of a cylinder, and thebell-shaped members may be inserted therein, whereupon the walls of the ringmaybe-pressed into The protruding wit-hin thehub 58 by the nut Yand-l-l-)in connection 36, whereupon one-treadsection.may

be moved univer-'sally with I,relation yto an To securethe nut and pinto `the shank, access theretdmay be had through the aperture 2l.

1t will be seen that the universal .j oint, beine pvoted et the ,Cesta/,ref @be etc-11st@ portion aprox/idas forrotatve movement oft-the tread plate abouttheaxis of the track- Wav, While .the -eonstruetian 0f the ball and socket-jest nessi :sievmesezfeaell section in a plane, parallel to the sprocket wheel l0. To limit the rotative movement oieach section about the above mentioned axis, we provide projecting lugs 40, which may be positioned `on the plate 16, so as to engage the bottom of the apron 13.

Referring now to Fig. l, and assuming that the` sprocket wheel is rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow, then each section will be engaged by the sprocket teeth, untilg'it-,reaches thevpoint where the lug Ll0 Vis:directly beneath the foremost portion of ytheplate, as at L11. Inrthe event that an obstacle is encountered, while the section is adjacentthe lower portion of the sprocket wheel, it will be` seen that the rail on the apron will provide for lcontact with such lug,vand that the strains exerted upon cach -section will be immediately transmitted to the frame.

VToprovide for lubrication ofthe universal ,-jo1nt, .each shank 3 0 may be con- 'structed with an aperture 29, which connects the interior portion of the bell-shaped member, .with the interior portion of the traekway `onfthe platel. Lubricant oi' moderately heavy consistency may then be packed into the hollow portion of a track-- -rway-through an-aperture infthe wall thereof, and such Vaperture may be thereafter sealed by the plug 9. As the tread passes around the sprocket wheel, the lubricant works through the opening 29 and then outwardly and across the contact surfaces between the bell-shaped member and the housing, and between thefhousingand the bear ing surface on the recess 28.

Extending downwardly from the lower surface ofthe plate 16, we provide a grouser which is preferably offset. from the longitudinal center' 'of each section and comprises, as shown inFig. 4, a substantially rectangularvhousing 45, which may be secured in any convenient manner to the plate, as by a bolt and nut connection 46. Assuming that the partially therethrough, ,as .at 48, .and having ,a Yperipheral flange extending karound the open end Aof .the member. The Hangs is adaptedto :abutthe top ot `a rib 49, within .the grousera and to `be limitedin that direc- 'tion` byl contact therewith.

' ,To provide .a1-yielding connection between pachmelnlier ai' and .the tread plate 16, we

CIL

employ a helical spring 59, oneend of which is adapted to abut the bottom of the plate and the other end of which is adaptedfto abut the member i7 on the innermost portion of the recess therein. These yieldable' members are normally held inabutting engagement with the rib 49, in which position a portion thereof, asat 50, is adaptedto protrude beyond the bottom of lthe groiiser.

NVhen the tractor tread moves over soit ground the tension `in each spring isl siii- Y iicient to cause each point 50 to sinkk fnto the ground. v0n pavement, however, it

may be `advisable to cap the bottom` oi each yield-v able member with pliable material, such as rubber, whereby an effective gripping action is readily obtained. .4 y

ln operation, assuming that the sprocket wheel is turning inthe direction as indicated bythe arrow ,j in Fig.y l, kthen each section is i moved relative to an adjacent section, and in plane parallel to` the axis oit yrotation'l ojt such sprocket wheel', by turning action in theball and socket connection. Such action is, oit' course, accomplished .by the bell-'shaped member 26, rotatingk within the annularv housing 27,4 or by the aiinular'housing 'itself rotating within the recess 28 on each section. As each section approaches the ground, the first point thereof to come in contact with theground is the top of the grouser 45, which` ta `:es up the shock on an area which is ksmall in comparison to the area oi the section or, tread platel. It the character of the ground is moderately soft, but still strong venough .to preventr kthe grouser from sinking into the earth,

section, as it passes Aover suchobstacld-is pvoted about the axis of the ball and socket such joint without producing` a torsional strain thereon. rlhe upward movement of each tread is limited, however, by the rails which extend Jroin one end of the tractor tread to the other end thereof, and which constitute a part of the frame 12.y y

From the foregoing description, it vwill be seen that we have provided a tread particularly adapted for use in connection with track-laying vehicles, and that we have provided a universal joint connection between adjacentsections of the tread, whereby each .tread is tree to rotate'about the axis theretot, and torsional strains on the connecting joint are eliminated. Furthermore, our invention effects a tread which enables a tractor to be eiiiciently operatedon any charactei' of soil, and in addition provides a cushioning means which is very useful when the tractor is being driven over hard road beds or pavements.

yHaving thus described our invention, we

. claim vl. ln a device oi the class described the frombination with tread blocks, each having substantially hemispherical cavities therein, ot an articulated sphere between adjacent blocks and seating in said cavities..

ln a device Oi the class described, the combination with tread blocks each having outwardly facing cavities therein, of an articulated sphere between adjacent bloc-lis,

, and seating in said cavities, and means within each of said bloclrs for securing the articulated sphere thereto.

3. lin ak device oi' the'class described the` combination with plurality oit tread blocks, cachot said bioclrs having outwardly facing cavity therein, and each cavity ing` se positioned that when one bioclr is positioned adjacentanother, the cavities form substantially a sphere, and universal joints seated in said cavities.

e. ln combination, a pair of sprockety wheels a iframe extendingl therebetween and i zo having an apron projecting downwardly on r*each ported by the frame, each oit' said blocks compi'ising a plate, anarcuate traclrway mounted yon the plate, means tor enabling said 'piate to be oscillated about the axis ot said traclrway, and lugs carried by the plateaiid ci' the wheels, tread blocks supadapted to vnigage said apron to limit the oscillation of said plate.

p 5. ln combination, a series of tread blocks comprising any endless belt, each oit said blocksk having substantially heinispherical .cavities therein and so arranged `thru. the

cavity in one block faces the cavity in the adjacent block, a universal joint between adjacent blocks, said joint comprising an.

articulated sphereseated in the cavities and trunnions beyond the innermost portion ot .said cavities. joint, and the tread is free to rotate about y6. In combination a tread )late a orouser comprising a hollow member extending l" downwardly from said plate, a series of aligned openings within said grouser, cupyshaped members slidably mounted within said openings and adapted to project beyond `the grouser, each of said members havinga flange portion for limiting the outward movement thereof and yielding means between said members and plate.

7. In combinatiom'a tread piate comprisingk a rectangular, substantially dat menilOO ably mounted in said grouser, and adapte/, to project a light distance therebeyond, each ol said members having` an annular iiange which is adapted to abut the Lgrouser to limit its movement in one direction, and a series of individual springs each having one end thereof Within one oi said members, and having ythe other end then-:oll in abutting engagement with said plate.

S. in combination, tread blocks, each comprising a hollow reservoir :'or lubricant, and a hollow universal joint between adjacentblocls, each o'l saicL joints having` a passageway therethrough 'for providing; communication between the interior of said blocks and the interior oi said joints.

9. fin endless beltl having; in combination, tread b oelrs each having` a hollow reservoir therein, hollow universal joints intermediate acont blocks, and passageway Jor per- 'mitting lubricant to iloW irom said blocks through said joint-s `and block.

10. lin endless belt, having in combination tread blocks, each olf said blocks having a hollow portion therein adapted to retain a quantity oif lubricant, a universal joint connectingadjacent blocks, the interior of into the adjacent each of said joints being1 hollow, and a passageway connecting` the interior portion ot each joint with the holloiv portion of said block.

ll. in endless belt having -i combination tread blocks, a hollow traelrivay carried by each block, a universal joint intermediate the blocks, said joint comprisingl spherical segments and a. zone of a sphere surrounding` said segments, each ot said spherical segments being provided 'with' a tubular passageway, which provides communication between the interior of the traclrvvay and the interior portion of the joint.

12. in endless tread having in combinarfi-ev tion, a series ot substantially flat tread blocks, a hollow traeln'ay on each hioclr, universal joints connecting adjacent traelrf .vaiys, each oi.: said jolnts comprising spherical segments, and a zone of' asphere embracing said segments, and means Within said traclnvays for securing said joints thereto.

13. An endless tread comprising substantially fiat tread blocks each liaving'a hollow traelrivay transversely thereof, universal joints intermediate adjacent blocks, each oli said joints comprising eppositely disposed hollow spherical segments, a Zone ot av sphere embracing` .said segments, trunnione carried by and adapted to support said segments, and removable members Within the traclrivay for securing said trunnions thereto.

lll. In combination, treadblo'cls,-a boss thereon having` substantially hemispherioal cavities therein, there being one boss on each oi Said blocks, a universal jointV intermediate adjacent blocks, and seating in saidi cavities and having trunnions rotatably mounted within said bosses.

l5. ln combination, tread blocks, a boss thereon having substantially' hemispherioal cavities therein, there being one boss on each ot said blocks, a universal joint intermediate aoent blocks, said joint comprising a Zone of a sphere free to move Wit-hin the cavities, and t'vfo spherical segments-freely movable Within said Zonev` and means `comprising trunnions 'for rotatably supporting,l said segments Within said bosses.

i6. ln combinatiomtread blocks, -a boss extending v'transversely of each bloclr and having` ahemispherical cavity at each end CALREL TORRESEN. CHARLES G. ROTH. 

